A fire alarm watches for signs of fire and works 24/7 — it can never be "disarmed". An intruder alarm detects break-ins: doors and windows opening, movement, breaking glass. It is armed when the building is empty and disarmed in the morning.
The two functions are often combined on one panel as a fire and security system. For example, the Bolid Signal-2000M / S2000M panel we use on our projects handles both fire and intruder detectors.
Practical tips
- If the building is empty at night, combine fire and intruder functions on one panel — it costs less than two systems.
- Fire circuits must stay active 24/7, even when the intruder alarm is disarmed.
- Send both types of alarm to security or a monitoring centre so they are acted on immediately.